Healthy, plant-based, and organic dishes are one of the hottest trends in the wedding industry, reports wedding publication Brides, which is very much in accordance with the current penchant for all things sustainable.

If you are preparing for your big day and you plan on impressing fit and healthy guests with a menu that won’t force them to forfeit their health goals, there are so many options to choose from.

Heavy 3- or 4-course meals are no longer the ‘be-all, end-all’ when it comes to receptions.

Couples are opting for everything from healthy buffets to barbecues, cocktail-style catering featuring skewers, charcuterie boards, and self-contained appetisers, with guests gathered around standing tables.

You don’t have to count calories, measure proteins, or do too many calculations to give your guests a healthy experience. The following ideas may inspire you when planning your wedding meal –

1. Going for Gold: Organic Produce and Meat

Simple barbecues featuring quality organic meat, fruits, and vegetables are big on the wedding scene, since outdoor events are overtaking the wedding industry this year.

Organic meat has approximately 47% higher levels of Omega-3 essential fatty acids than non-organic meat. Organic fruits and vegetables, meanwhile, have higher levels of antioxidants and lower levels of heavy metals like cadmium.

If you value holistic health, then concentrating on quality is one way to boost health and wellbeing. Serve produce simply, with natural, homemade sides, prepared along to ‘slow food’ concepts and devoid of refined and ultra-processed ingredients.

2. Including More Plant-Based Items on Your Menu

Plant-based diets are linked to a lower body mass index and a reduced chance of developing obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. They can also help boost mental health, since they promote the proliferation of healthy bacteria in the gut.

Currently plant-based menus are an important part of the eco-friendly wedding movement, since meat is responsible for around 60% of all food-related greenhouse emissions.

You don’t have to go vegan or even vegetarian if you don’t want to, but including more vegetables in starters and sides can help lower your carbon footprint. To add more planet-friendly aspects to your celebration, source local or reusable flowers (or use potted flowers to decorate reception tables), choose an eco-friendly venue for your event, and consider wearing vintage or pre-loved attire and jewellery.

3. Replacing Refined Carbohydrates with Farm to Table Snacks and Starters

Instead of serving bread or having a donut wall stand, why not serve surprising snacks and starters made with roasted root vegetables like cauliflower, sweet potatoes, and beets? Think a pumpkin and beet tower topped with crumbled goats’ cheese (or vegan cheese for non-dairy eaters), bacon and sweet potato bites made with vegan bacon, or devilled egg potato bites.

To up the antioxidant power of fruits and vegetables, serve a few raw choices — including raw beet ravioli with vegan cashew cheese, coconut cheesecake bites (for a post-wedding cake snack on the dance-floor), or raw zucchini roll-ups.

Top trends for wedding receptions include stand-up parties, buffets, and barbecues. If you choose one of these modalities instead of a standard 3- or 4-course meal, there are many ways that you can up the health factor without needing to spend time counting calories.

Takeaway

Organic foods, plant-based items, and raw foods, prepared mindfully with quality ingredients, will provide guests with the variety they need to feed and fuel their body and mind.